Those in Kentucky who practice law without a license could face harsher penalties under a new House bill.
Rep. Daniel Elliott, R-Danville, presented House Bill 256 to the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. The measure would increase the penalty for unauthorized practice of law to a class A misdemeanor on the first offense and to a class D felony for any subsequent offense.
Under current statute, the penalty for the unauthorized practice of law—no matter how many times a person commits the offense—is a class B misdemeanor.
HB 256 was approved by the House Judiciary Committee by a 14-2 vote and will now go before the House for consideration.